ORMOND BEACH, Fla. – The Hampton University softball team fell 9-0 to Delaware State in five innings Friday afternoon in the 2014 MEAC Championships at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex.
 
The loss ends Hampton's season; the Lady Pirates went 29-20.
 
Delaware State, the MEAC Northern Division's No. 1 seed, jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead by pushing across four runs in the bottom of the first inning – thanks in large part to a three-run home run from Rochelle Sablay.
 
The Lady Hornets then scored five times in the bottom of the fourth inning, collecting six hits in the frame. A triple from Jessica Madrid drove in the first two runs, before Sandy Hawthorne followed with an RBI double.
 
Singles from Danielle Velez and Jordan Stamps gave Delaware State a 9-0 lead.
 
The Lady Pirates were held to just three hits in the game – one each from sophomore Taylor McCoy (Riverview, Fla.), junior Kerissa Burruel (Phoenix, Ariz.), and sophomore Diamond Ponds (Riverside, Calif.). Hampton had two runners on in the fifth inning, but couldn't capitalize.
 
Junior Jailynn Jackson (Virginia Beach, Va.), the two-time reigning MEAC Pitcher of the Year, struck out two batters in 3.1 innings of work.
 
For more information on Hampton University softball, please call the Office of Sports Information at (757) 727-5811, or visit the official Pirates website at www.hamptonpirates.com.